I was at a writing workshop and an attendees asked the instructor “how to write a book that gets into Barnes & Noble. She didn’t really hear him say, “yeah, me too.” He tried to explain distribution and reviews.
On a smaller scale, my main city library turned me down the first time because the book hadn’t been reviewed in a “big” place. The review came and I tried again. It took six months but it’s there now & in our city library (also a six month wait.) Someone I don’t know checked the book out.
All of that said, your point about a singular goal not being the focus is so important to come to terms with. Barnes & Noble is perhaps a noble goal :) but it’s a far long shot. Getting into a major library can be just as important. And it is stepping stones a lot of the time. Slow ones. When the wonderful big things happen, it can be thrilling too, but tunnel vision would have left me disappointed and crying in Barnes & Noble. :)
I would probably still cry in Barnes & Noble because I'm a softy, but I love that you can search your library catalogs and find Amy Barnes there!!!! WOO!
Thank you so much for writing this. It taught me so much and I am still learning every day about publishing and marketing and my day job is in marketing!! I am grateful for all of the knowledge you shared and for your tenacity on my book.
Love this. Really appreciate the message of longevity. And thinking in terms of bookS and career not just this one book, singular, (which can be really difficult when you have limited time). Trying to take the long view over here and hearing these (legit) examples is helpful. I think the concept of expectation is tricky. Bc we (as authors, as humans) have to balance being realistic and grateful for any and all things that happen with our writing, but we also have to dream big, try, "go for it", not reject ourselves and also say "hey, why not me?". That toggle can be a bit of a whiplash. I suppose everyone handles that (and all forms of rejection) differently.
I totally get the whiplash! And sort of hate the idea that authors have to be grateful for any coverage, maybe it's less of a binary than that, I hope it is, maybe more like ... a what COULD happen. It feels a little like vacation--I always anticipate vacations so much and plan them so much in my head that by the time I'm on the vacation sometimes so much of it feels like a disappointment because I don't allow myself to have any sort of surprise. I've looked at menus, I've looked at the scenery of places, I've mapped out the exact walk of how we'll go and there's no room for exploration or wander. I want more writers to find themselves in the wander!
Perfect analogy. Maybe it's just about being open to all of it: the misfires and the wins that might come from going down unexpected (and ok also expected) paths.
Belatedly reading this, but damn, everything here is so smart! It's a longevity game, a persistance game, a luck game, and yes—in many ways—a game of having the right privileges that allow for longevity and persistance (and therefore, increasing the chances of luck by simply being in the system / institution long enough). Also, +++ to the sentiment of leading with kindness, always.
I was at a writing workshop and an attendees asked the instructor “how to write a book that gets into Barnes & Noble. She didn’t really hear him say, “yeah, me too.” He tried to explain distribution and reviews.
On a smaller scale, my main city library turned me down the first time because the book hadn’t been reviewed in a “big” place. The review came and I tried again. It took six months but it’s there now & in our city library (also a six month wait.) Someone I don’t know checked the book out.
All of that said, your point about a singular goal not being the focus is so important to come to terms with. Barnes & Noble is perhaps a noble goal :) but it’s a far long shot. Getting into a major library can be just as important. And it is stepping stones a lot of the time. Slow ones. When the wonderful big things happen, it can be thrilling too, but tunnel vision would have left me disappointed and crying in Barnes & Noble. :)
I would probably still cry in Barnes & Noble because I'm a softy, but I love that you can search your library catalogs and find Amy Barnes there!!!! WOO!
Noble goal. I see what you did there.
Very cool about the library Amy! Oh, persistence...
Loved it! A good read and so helpful and inspiring for the authors. Good luck to all of them.
<3 thanks, mom.
Thank you so much for writing this. It taught me so much and I am still learning every day about publishing and marketing and my day job is in marketing!! I am grateful for all of the knowledge you shared and for your tenacity on my book.
I adore you!!!! (and your book--SUCH A GOOD BOOK!!!)
Love this. Really appreciate the message of longevity. And thinking in terms of bookS and career not just this one book, singular, (which can be really difficult when you have limited time). Trying to take the long view over here and hearing these (legit) examples is helpful. I think the concept of expectation is tricky. Bc we (as authors, as humans) have to balance being realistic and grateful for any and all things that happen with our writing, but we also have to dream big, try, "go for it", not reject ourselves and also say "hey, why not me?". That toggle can be a bit of a whiplash. I suppose everyone handles that (and all forms of rejection) differently.
I totally get the whiplash! And sort of hate the idea that authors have to be grateful for any coverage, maybe it's less of a binary than that, I hope it is, maybe more like ... a what COULD happen. It feels a little like vacation--I always anticipate vacations so much and plan them so much in my head that by the time I'm on the vacation sometimes so much of it feels like a disappointment because I don't allow myself to have any sort of surprise. I've looked at menus, I've looked at the scenery of places, I've mapped out the exact walk of how we'll go and there's no room for exploration or wander. I want more writers to find themselves in the wander!
Perfect analogy. Maybe it's just about being open to all of it: the misfires and the wins that might come from going down unexpected (and ok also expected) paths.
<3 It's hard to stay in the "could!"
Love this line, Cassie: "She can switch lanes and her readership will turn their blinkers on."
Ah, thanks Stanley! also lovely to see you here!
Belatedly reading this, but damn, everything here is so smart! It's a longevity game, a persistance game, a luck game, and yes—in many ways—a game of having the right privileges that allow for longevity and persistance (and therefore, increasing the chances of luck by simply being in the system / institution long enough). Also, +++ to the sentiment of leading with kindness, always.
Totally, all this! 🚀